V/S & Vibrant Space Consulting
We tirelessly pursue finding the best in Space and Taste from boutique hotels to large hotel brands and their restaurants. Having created hospitality businesses from scratch, has given us a depth of understanding of both the industry and the level of excellence businesses must attain to compete. This is Vibrant Space Consulting.
The Cheshire Tastes, St. Louis
“Do you love what you do?” we asked. “You have to . . . to really do it well,” Executive Chef Rex Hale said, smiling. Between intervals of purposed movement, he would come and sit calmly with us in the restaurant Basso. There was a passionate energy about him that reminded you to really focus on the flavors you were experiencing. As Executive Chef for all the restaurants at The Cheshire, a boutique hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, it is this man’s pride in his work, his love for all things taste, and deep passion for his craft, that are the constant undercurrents of his confident and calming presence. They are the impetus that keep the engine of the entire operation running magnificently.
The Cheshire, St. Louis
I was about to board a nonstop flight in April 2016 from San Francisco to St. Louis, when I got a call from my mom. She was thinking about heading back to work on a project an hour south of St. Louis that we had been working on together for several months. She wanted me to come back with her--the next day. At that point I had been gone for 13 days. Before I made it to the Bay Area, I was at a wedding in Chicago, and before the wedding in Chicago, I was working with her on the project. My largest suitcase was packed for cold and warm weather, and with formal, beach and business clothing.
Ambassador Hotel, Tulsa
When we arrived at the tall brick building there was anticipation of two things--seeing our best friends, and getting water. Fast. July, 2016 was hot, and Oklahoma heat is even hotter. When we walked under the canopy and into the doors of The Ambassador, cool swept over us. With eyes adjusting, a sigh of relief gave way for us to take in the luscious lobby before us. The Mediterranean style was inviting, even understanding of the heat, with beautiful whites and neutrals seeming to say “come sit down and cool off a bit.”
Hotel Vandivort, Springfield, Mo
Hotel Vandivort’s rich history and a rich interior are drawing both travellers and locals through it’s doors, and stunning both every time. As the first boutique hotel in Springfield, Missouri, it lives up to the hope of its name. The detail in the lobby alone is art itself. A blend of wood, stone, and metal is balanced by pops of gray, teal, and green as well as brown and black leather. Pieces of art are hung above couches, a glass fireplace is warmly lit, and pillows abound. The hotel is opulent in the coziest way.
Loaded For Bear
“Loaded for Bear” is a loaded phrase. I used it in my 1/1/17 blog post “The Vision I can’t Unsee.” It needs a bit of unpacking. While I’ve never encountered a bear up close and certainly don’t want to, I have had many outdoor experiences where the potential was present.